Straw hat.



Patented lune 25, 190i. E. F. WALSH.

STRAW HAT.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1901.)

(M Model.)

QOQQQ A N Q WITNESSES me warm ruins cc) monmumo. WASHWGTUN a. c

UNlTE STATES ATENT Thrice.

ED\VARD FERRABY INALSH, OF LUTON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO EDWVARD 'W. BILL AND ALEXANDER OALDVVELL, COMPRISING THE FIRM OF BILL AND CALDW'ELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STRAW HAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,324, dated June 1901- Application filed March 1, 1901.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD FERRABY WALSH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Luton, county of Bedford,

5 England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw Hats, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hats, particularly to straw hats; and it has for its object to provide means whereby such a hat may be made flexible or elastic, so as to be capable of conforming to the shape of the head of the wearer, a further object of the invention being to provide improved means for stiffening the brim and adjacent portions of the crown of the hat while permitting such flexibility or elasticity.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,- forming part of this specification, in which like letters of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 isa side elevation of a straw hat embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of such ahat, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lining or stiffening device forming part of my invention.

In the practice of my invention I construct the hat of plaited or other straw in the usual manner to form the crown A and the brim B. In the type of hat shown in the drawings, to which my invention is chiefly and most advantageously applicable, the brim is flat or horizontal and the upper surface of the crown lies upon a plane parallel with the brim. Instead of stiffening the straw of the hat by treatment as hitherto I first apply within the interior of the hat a lining C of approximately circular or elliptical contour and of a height to project but partially within the hat or to about half the height thereof. The lower end ofthis lining is formed with an integral extension or false brim O, which projects immediately beneath and in contact with the brim B of the hat.

The lining is constructed of long strips or shreds of cane rounded, generally known as Serial No. 49,460. (No model.)

center-cane, laid parallel or in concentric ellipses, and this lining may advantageously be formed of one or more strips of cane wound spirally or continuously. The caneis knotted or sewed closely together by thread or other binding material.

Upon the upper or outer surface of the lining are sewed or otherwise secured a plurality of wire angle-pieces D, which are preferably rigid and bent at a right angle to lie upon the extension or false brim G and against the main body portion of the lining O. I secure this lining within the lower part of the crown of the hat and to the under surface thereof by sewing the same therein, andI then cover the under surface of the extension or false brim O and its outer edge by securing thereon rows of plaited straw sewed thereto in the usual manner to form the lower portion B of the completed brim. The upper portion of the crown of the hat, which is not reached by the cane lining, is thenstiffened by treatment in the customary fashion, and the whole hat is then blocked and trimmed as ordinarily.

By the use of my invention a straw hat of this type is made pliable and flexible and possesscs the quality of conforming or adjusting itself to the shape'of any head, whether of a long, round, or irregular oval, thereby render- 8o ing it more comfortable to wear than an ordinary stiff hat. The peculiar construction of the cane lining imparts this quality to the hat without in any way impairing the integrity of its form and type of contour. The cane is resilient, and by reason of being made of thin strips, as shown, and loosely united by threads or bindings it is obvious that this lining will be elongated either longitudinally or laterally of the hat, so as instantly to shape itself to the head. The purpose of the lining is not to stiffen the hat more than by the ordinary process of stiffening, but, on the contrary, to make it more pliable and flexible.

If this lining were made in one single solid 5 piece, it would of course be impossible to attain the object of my invention. A stiff brim will absolutely prevent this flexibility and pliability of the hat. As herein'above stated,

I stiffen with the usual method the upper pormo tion of the hat, which I desire, preferably, to have retain a substantially rigid shape, and

the lower portion, which in all events according to the object of my invention must be flexible and pliable, I leave unstifiened and untreated by any stiffening process, and by the use of my newly-invented lining just sufficient'stiifness is imparted to the lower portion of the hat; but the rigidity produced by the customary process of treating the straw is not present, and in so far as respects the brim of the hat it is to compensate for this flexibility or pliability produced by my invention that I provide the angle-pieces to retain the shape of the said brim. Moreover, the hat will retain its correctness of shape and stiffness of brim in virtue of this lining and of the angle-pieces, and even after the hat has been worn a length of time the brim will be equally as stiff as before, and it will not be liable to lose its stilfness or flatness even after exposure to the elements.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the exact construction and details thereof hereinabove specified and, further, that I am not restricted to any exact shape of hat.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A straw hat provided in the lower portion thereof with an interior lining consisting of strips of cane laid substantially parallel and secured together.

2. A straw hat provided in the lower portion thereof with an interior lining consisting of strips of cane laid substantially parallel and secured thereto, the said lining beingprovided with an extension or false brim projecting outwardly from the body of the hat and secured to the brim thereof.

3. A straw hat provided interiorly with a lining of strips of cane laid substantially parallel and secured together by threads or binding, and a plurality of metallic angle-pieces secured to the said lining;

4. A straw hat provided interiorly with a lining consisting of rounded strips of cane laid substantially parallel and closely knotted together with thread or binding, the said lining being of a form to project within the lower portion of the hat-crown and being provided with an integral extension or false brim projecting outwardly and secured to the hatbrim. 1

5. A straw hat comprisinga crown and brim of the type described, the upper portiononly of the crown being stiffened in the usual manner, and the lower portion of the crown and the brim being provided with a lining consisting of rounded strips of cane laid substantially parallel and closely knotted together with threads or binding; a plurality of wire angle-pieces secured to the said lining; and a covering of straw secured to and concealing the brim portion of said lining.

6. A straw hat provided with a lining formed of rounded strips secured together by thread or binding, the said lining comprising a main body secured in the lower portion of the hat=crown and an extension or false brim secured to the hat-brim; and a plurality of metallic angle-pieces secured upon the upper or outer face of the said lining.

7. A straw hat comprising a crown and brim of the type described, the lower portion of the hat being left unstifiened and provided with an interior lining consisting of strips of cane laid substantially parallel and connected to= gether whereby said portion of the hat is pliable and flexible and will conform to the shape of the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in pres ence of the subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of February, 1901.

EDWARD FERRABY WALSH.

l/Vitnes'ses V GEO. P. S. KELsEY, MAX E. FLEIDUY. 

